09/29/2007

Alice Went Missing in Champagne

I just left without saying goodbye. Where did I go? Champagne. So many stories. Great trip. I visited small, medium and large and huge. In ironic controst, I even visited David LeClapart with his seven acres of vines and Moet who owns 10% of the available land, which adds up to 2400 acres on the same day. A terrific sandwich.

But the image still lodged in my mind in the jumble of discoveries was the above one. I found this remarkable site when I drove south to the disrespected Aube (not even on the map of champagne regions in Terry Thiese's champagne catalogue) to the hill of Montgeaux.

Standby for the story behind this gorgeous vineyard plot on the hill of Montgeaux.

I'm hunting the Leon Trotskys, the Philip Roths, the Chaucers and the Edith Whartons of the wine world. I want them natural and most of all, I want them to speak the truth even if we argue. With this messiah thing going on, I'm trying to swell the ranks of those who crave the differences in each vintage, celebrate nuance and desire wines that make them think, laugh, and feel. Welcome.

And, if you'd like a signed copy of either THE BATTLE FOR WINE AND LOVE OR HOW I SAVED THE WORLD FROM PARKERIZATION or NAKED WINE, feel free to contact me directly.